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The Sprout
Children demand action on Climate
The newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley
Issue 135 March 2019
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The Sprout
The Newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley
Directors: Janet Bartlam, Judi Bolder, John Clements, Janet
Godden, Ag MacKeith, Robin Palmer
Editor
Ag MacKeith
South View House, Old Botley, OX2 0JR Tel: 724452 Editor@TheSprout.org.uk
Advertising Manager
Michael Cockman
50, St Paul's Crescent OX2 9AG Tel: 07766 317691 Adverts@TheSprout.org.uk
Deliveries
Bhee Bellew and Robin Cox
15 Seacourt Road, OX2 9LD Tel: 790648 Deliveries@TheSprout.org.uk
Copy Date: Copy by 15th of month preceding publication. Earlier submission is
welcome. Later contributions may have to be held over to the next issue.
Advertisements: If you have print-ready advertisements in the correct format the
last day for booking advertising is the 10th of the month preceding publication; in all
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sizes, quality requirements, advice on text and help with production, please contact
the Advertising Manager.
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¼ page: 1 issue £28; 3 issues £72; 5 issues £108; 10 issues £144
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Subscriptions: If you live outside North Hinksey Parish you can still receive The
Sprout on a regular basis. Just take out a postal subscription – only £10 per annum,
delivered to your door. Contact: Carol Kramer 01865 243002.
Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information printed in this
newsletter, mistakes may happen. The Editor and Team apologize unreservedly for
any errors that may occur and will do their best to correct them. This publication is not
a vehicle of the parish council, and parish councillors working with the Sprout do so in
a personal capacity. Opinions expressed are the opinions of the individual
contributors.
All concerned in the production and delivery of The Sprout are unpaid
volunteers.
The Sprout is printed on recycled paper by Dataprint Ltd, and
published by North Hinksey Parish Publications Ltd, (a company
limited by guarantee) Registration No. 05609535.
It can also be found online at BotleyHinksey.org.uk
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The Sprout
Issue 135, March 2019
Contents
3 Letters to the Editor
6 Climate Emergency
9 WWCC latest
11 A.I. Raises Doubts
13 NHPC Key Issues
15 Thanking You
17 Life Lessons
21 Butterfly Survey
23 Expressway
25 Patients’ Group
27 Have You Seen this Bird?
29 Assn for Botley
31 Brownies in a Moral Maze
35 Planning Applications
37 Randoms
43 Local Organizations
From the Editor
The big story in a beautiful February when Spring came very early indeed,
is that people round here have started to get frightened at looming
climate change. On 15th Feb many of our local children joined the school
strike (p.6) demanding that government take action. On Feb 21st the Vale
District Council and N Hinksey Parish Council followed the City Council’s
lead and declared a Climate Emergency. Just what this will mean remains
to be seen – nothing much can be done until the new parish council is
elected in May. On the Expressway, our MP got some clarification in
Parliament (p.23) and BBOWT got permission to take the Govt to court for
the way they have put forward routes without first assessing the
environmental implications (p.39). Opposition to the Flood Scheme has
also brought results – there will be a public enquiry in the summer if the
Environment Agency can’t persuade the landowners to accept their plans
(p.41). There will be more info about the Expressway on 21st March, at
NHPC’s Annual Parish Meeting. This is your once-yearly chance to
engage the PC in a proper discussion about what needs doing around
Botley. The Chair, David Kay, sets out the issues on page 13. Elsewhere,
we have an interview with a Life Coach (p.17), looking for butterfly eggs
in Raleigh Park (p.21), and for a Rose Coloured Starling which made a
rare appearance in Botley’s back gardens (p.27). All this and more in your
favourite local mag! Ag MacKeith
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Letters to the Editor
Botley Circus
Thank you for your editorial in the February Sprout alerting readers to
the plan to call the centre of the new shopping ‘Westway Place’. This
will become, in effect, the name of the whole centre. It is utterly dull as a
name. And as you say it is confusing, especially as Westgate is now
branding itself heavily. It is also contradictory, as a ‘way' is a direction
not a ‘place’.
Your suggestion that the proud name of Botley be given a home as well
as a road is surely right. I’m not convinced that Botley Place is best, as
it sounds a bit dull. Botley Square seems a bit snobbish – and Botley is
not! I’d prefer Botley Centre or even Botley Circus.
But we live in times when good, sound proposals bite the dust as
corporate thinking imposes its bland visions on us all. So what to do
about your brilliant suggestion? I suggest you organise a small group of
Botleyans to write a letter to the Oxford Mail and also the Times, whose
editor complains that it does not get enough letters. It should be short
and it could propose that the developers hold a survey of local residents
as to what name we would like – provided Botley Circus is one of them.
And get the local radio to do a feature as well, and go out and ask
residents what they think.
Anthony Barnett
From Briony
From 1991–2007 I represented our area on the VOWH District Council
and 1995–2012 at NHPC. I met the London agent of the West Way
Precinct owners and suggested if they ever intended to sell they should
approach the Vale, who were capital rich but revenue poor. It’s history
now but the Vale became the new owners and the rental income of over
£500k p.a. went towards lowering Council Tax precepts. However, my
hopes that the Vale would be better landlords were always
disappointed. Years passed and MACE became interested in
redeveloping our local shopping area. I realised the Vale would be
likely to make a huge profit if they sold their land asserts. I decided to
keep a low profile and see what happened.
In total I served 22 years as an elected councillor and was particularly
pleased how NHPC councillors achieved so many completed projects
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during 2007/11, mainly funded by grants. These included the award-
winning Nature Reserve and Community Orchard, both in North
Hinksey Lane, and the total replacement of the Elms Rise play park
equipment. Then attention turned to environmental issues and the lack
of facilities for older children. The result was the Louie Memorial Fields
Project. Local experts guided NHPC and sadly, around this time, the
much-loved Botley Skatepark was vandalised. The Copse rare fen area
was in decline, and sometimes rain caused flooding to properties at the
bottom of Hutchcomb Road. Pollarding of old, distorted willow trees
and diverting the stream back to its original route were recommended,
although this did not please everybody.
Finalised plans went on Public display and were mainly well received.
Grants were received towards play equipment on the upper field and
recommended environmental work in the Copse. Pollarding of the
willow trees certainly looked drastic and stark but they became strong
and healthy and the stream rerouting was a success.
Now to our current 2019 situation and the developments taking place.
I’ve kept my views to myself, and never joined the West Way Concern
group, finding them rather strident and inflexible.
However: I do feel it is now time to congratulate the developers on their
management of the demolition and building work taking place at the
shopping area. Their attention to H&S issues and catering for the
needs of the shops, customers, car parking and developers’ vehicles so
far has been impressive.
Finally, last month the Sprout commented about the chosen name of
Westway Place. It does not bother me too much but surely in memory
of our late and fabulous Chippy it ought to be Westway Plaice!
Briony Newport, Honorary Alderman, VOWH DC
Where are the Hedgehogs?
Where have the hedgehogs gone?
I was asking this of a friend on North Hinksey Lane. She and I both
agreed that we last saw a hedgehog some 20 years ago. Both of us live
in ‘natural’ areas with plenty of suitable access – but alas no
hedgehogs. Previously they were not infrequently seen on our patches.
I believe they are around in parts of Botley, though perhaps only on the
west side of the A34??
Elaine Sugden
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Climate emergency
The realities of Climate Change
have been taught to our children
since primary school – it turns out
they believe us and want us to do
something about it. Hooray!
Many children from our local
schools were among the
thousands who brought their
anxious energy to Bonn Square
on February 15th. Their hand-
drawn placards were full of telling
slogans like the ones shown here.
What came across in the
speeches and in the placards,
was a sense of desperate urgency
– of course it was exciting to be
out of school and on the streets,
but there was no sense that this
was just for fun! The climate
emergency is deadly serious, and
we had better believe it!
It’s not just the school children who have decided to act.
On 21st February the Parish Council unanimously agreed to become the
first one in England (as far as we know) to call a climate emergency. Earlier
in February Oxford City Council led the way, and the Vale of White Horse
has now followed their example. The
vote was unanimous, and all the
discussion was about what the PC
could do make a difference. It was
agreed that they had a role to play in
keeping people informed, and the
new council, to be elected in May,
will have a remit to set up a working
group to look at what help and
advice there is locally to get the
message out. Low Carbon West
Oxford has made a good start, and
the Association of Botley
Communities has much to offer.
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The North Hinksey Neighbour-
hood Plan, (now out for
consultation at the Vale of
White Horse), has clear policies
for sustainable building in the
parish, and it is to be hoped
that the Vale will be more
willing to enforce them in future.
The pavilion replacement in
Arnold’s Way is designed to be
a model of sustainability.
In this context, the proposed
Oxbridge Expressway seems
increasingly wrong-headed.
Apart from the dire effects on
wildlife, its very existence will
hugely add to car journeys, not
just the road itself, but the
million new homes it will bring.
With this in mind, the parish
council voted to join the No
Expressway Alliance linking
groups and communities across
the county who want the whole
project to be abandoned.
(www.noexpresswayalliance.org)
Is there hope we can come
together and do something to
fend off climate change after all?
There are already small initiatives
across the Parish, and the Sprout
would love to spread the word.
Our own contribution is to print on
recycled paper.
There will be a national school
strike on 15th March. But our
children are not in this alone. We
can join them – after all, we’re
worried too!
Ag MacKeith
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West Way Community Concern update
Construction of the hotel, student accommodation blocks and the
community centre are proceeding. The pedestrian walkway through the
site from Arthray Road is now in its final route.
The developer hasn’t yet discharged relevant conditions placed on them
in their planning consent. The Vale acknowledge that, technically, they
are in breach, but that no action will be taken against them.
Parking of constructors’ vehicles in residential roads has become an
issue. Our District councillors are raising this with the developer.
Traders in Elms Parade have commented that they are seeing reduced
footfall, and also that parking around the retail area is a problem. We
will press the developer to ensure that they comply with their promise
that constructors’ vehicles will not be parked in carparks designated for
users of Elms Parade and the temporary retail units.
The new shopping centre will be called ‘West Way Square’. We had
commented on the current name ‘Westway Place’ as being at odds with
the location ‘West Way’. The Vale have the final say on naming and
have been insistent that the name should be spelt as two words. Mace
will continue to use ‘Westway Place’ in their marketing to retailers, but
hopefully this name will disappear as soon as the marketing is
complete.
The developers have submitted a planning application, reference
P19/V0416/FUL, to make changes to Block E; the residential and retail
block at the rear of Elms Parade. The elevations have been changed,
with the size of the balconies reduced. At ground level, amendments to
the retail spaces are proposed, which the agents say will allow flexibility,
such that a greater variety of tenants, including A3 uses (for the sale
and consumption of food and drink),
can occupy the space.
We will continue to respond to this and
any further planning applications, and
will monitor the planning conditions as
they are discharged. Any concerns will
be brought to the attention of the
planning officers and our local
councillors. More information on
www.westwayconcern.wordpress.com; westwayconcern@gmail.com;
www.facebook/westwayconcern Mary Gill, Chair
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‘Artificial Intelligence’ Is it all it’s cracked up to be?
From the Sprout’s Raving Reporter
As a technological Neanderthal who still can’t understand how the
internet actually works – ‘Why do you need to know, Grandad Mike?’
chime in grandchildren but that’s not the point – how on Earth can I get
any sort of grasp on Artificial Intelligence? Well, perhaps I could start by
posing a few simple questions that are giving me sleepless nights.
⁇ Will I still have to pass a driving test if I get a driverless car?
⁇ Are SIRI and ALEXA compatible. No, not a technical question – it’s
just this: if in the same house will they compete for domestic
supremacy when I’m not looking?
⁇ What are they anyway?
⁇ Will a dry Sunday roast no longer be deemed
to be my fault? Would lecturing the oven
when it goes wrong simply end up in a home
visit by men in white coats?
⁇ Will the vacuum cleaner have a sense of
humour?
⁇ Is it advisable to consult the dog before
sending him off with Derek the Dog
Walker? How will it handle poo bags, is that
a step too far?
⁇ Will Gary the Robot Gardener continue the tradition of flinging
weeds over next door’s fence?
⁇ When sent shopping, will my robot be able to avoid imploding on
hearing ‘Jingle Bells’ in October?
⁇ How do I stop it going to Waitrose?
⁇ How will it deal with a rival robot when they’re both going for the last
‘Meal for a Tenner’?
⁇ As I can now apparently control my central heating from 10 fathoms
down or another galaxy, will it tell me when the missus turns up the
heating just after I’ve turned it down?
⁇ What’s 4 across in today’s Times?
⁇ Frankly, until I have the answers, I shall continue to assume
algorithm is a variation on Zumba.
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Parish Council update – the key issues
As we approach the end of this Council, with elections to take place in
May, this seems a good time to review some of the main issues from
the past four years that will continue to be of importance to the incoming
new Council.
The North Hinksey Parish Neighbourhood Plan has recently taken
another important step towards adoption. The Plan was approved by
the Parish Council in November and then submitted to the Vale. They
are now carrying out the first stage of Independent Examination, which
is a six week consultation running until the 27th March.
Details of how to submit comments can be found on the Vale website at
www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/northhinksey, along with copies of the main
Plan documents. Hard copies of those documents are also available to
view at both Botley Library and the Parish Council Office in Seacourt
Hall throughout the consultation. In addition the Resources page of the
Neighbourhood Plan website at www.nhinkseynp.org.uk/resources
contains copies of all the Plan documents.
The proposed Oxford to Cambridge Expressway has emerged over the
last year as a real threat to Botley. Should a route involving widening of
the A34 eventually be chosen, then the local impact would be
horrendous. NHPC continues to oppose the Expressway as a whole,
and in particular the possibility of choosing a route running through
Botley. A public consultation will eventually take place this Autumn at
which point around six potential detailed routes will have been selected.
This issue will feature in the Annual Parish Meeting, at 7.30pm on
Thursday 21st March in Seacourt Hall, so come along to find out more.
Also at that meeting we will be updating everybody on progress with the
Botley Centre redevelopment. With new structures springing up across
the site, the future look of our main shopping and community centre is
becoming progressively clearer. There’s still a long way to go before
completion though.
A final key issue is the provision of leisure facilities and upkeep of
Council owned buildings and spaces. Recently we installed play
equipment on the Upper Louie Memorial Playing Field, but the biggest
project by far remains the provision of a new Pavilion to replace the
current ageing structure. This task will be passed on to the next Council,
hopefully with a set of approved plans in place. We will have a fuller
update next month on how you can comment on the plans as part of the
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Vale’s formal planning consultation process.
A lot has been achieved over the duration of the current Council, but
much work remains to be done. I would like to offer my personal thanks
to Councillors for their efforts over recent years, and to encourage
individuals with an interest in supporting the community to stand in the
Parish Council elections. Details about the election process can be
found on our website at www.northhinksey-pc.gov.uk and Facebook
page at www.facebook.com/northhinkseypc .
Finally, I must give honourable mention to our former Parish Clerk. Alan
Stone, who retired in December after serving the Council for over 16
years. Alan brought a great deal of experience when he joined the
Council, and used this, in combination with a tireless determination to
improve NHPC’s efficiency and to ensure that the important tasks did
get done properly, and on time. His hard work was driven by his desire
to do the best he could for the Parish. It has been a pleasure to work
alongside him as Chairman over the past few years. Colin Ryde, his
replacement, has a tough act to follow. We wish him well!
Councillor David Kay,Chairman, North Hinksey Parish Council
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THANKING YOU!
The volunteers at Botley Over
60s Lunch Club were treated to a
meal at the Greyhound at
Besselsleigh in February thanks
to a generous whip-round from
their Lunch Club customers. We
were presented with some
money after the Christmas lunch
and thought the best way to
spend it would be for us to enjoy
a meal together. As a group we
usually don’t have a chance to
linger as we’re anxious to get on
with the clearing and washing up after Lunch Club, but this time we
enjoyed chatting until gone 3.00pm. I’d like to take this opportunity to
publically say a huge ‘Thank You’ to all our Lunch Club customers and
let them know how much their generosity was appreciated.
Viv Smith
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Life lessons
Gadi Benyamin is a life coach who lives in
North Hinksey but has clients all over the
world. Over the course of a fascinating
hour, Gadi told me how he came to be a life
coach and how coaching works, and
suggested a little exercise that we can all
try.
Gadi grew up in Tel Aviv (Israel), ‘the white
city’ famous for its Bauhaus architecture,
and he initially wanted to be an architect.
However he decided in his early 20s that he should do something more
meaningful, and he studied economics and communication at Haifa
University. One month after he graduated, he started to work in
Advertisiing, since this was a form of “realistic creativity”. However after
two years he felt unfulfilled there and, in his own words, left to look for
his destiny. One week later he met his now-wife, Neora.
Gadi spent the next three years doing things that he loved: writing,
analysing and producing cinema, and then getting an MSc in cinema.
He went to drama school to get better at writing, and wrote lots of funny
sketches for television. But that still wasn’t his destiny.
So for a year he sat in a café for 9–10 hours per day just writing. Gadi
wrote everything, including what it felt like to be a writer, and ended up
writing about how he solved problems with playfulness. Aha! That was
his destiny. Gadi could help people by helping them to solve problems.
He got involved in learning and teaching about the Satya method of life
coaching. He has been coaching now for about 13 years, has become
a senior coach, and also mentors other coaches.
In brief, the Satya method aims to ease suffering, and to allow people to
become free (both ‘free from’ and ‘free to’, in whatever way makes
sense for the individual). We all have emotions that make us feel
miserable: anger, disappointment, helplessness, jealousy etc. Gadi
explains: “The suffering, and what causes the 'dead ends' in our life,
isn't the emotions themselves, but being in the grip of these emotions.
As we grow up, we condition ourselves to react to those emotions, in a
way that doesn't serve us well. For example, sometimes as children we
understand that if we please our parents, they will love us more, or pay
attention to us, or even that will keep a peaceful house.
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And when we get older, we are still act like that, but that doesn't work
for us anymore. We call that a ‘miserable mechanism’. The Satya
method helps people to identify their own ‘miserable mechanisms’, and
to free themselves. The person who used to please can now choose
what would be the best or most accurate reaction, that will benefit both
him and the other.”
While he was still living in Tel Aviv, Gadi had a practice and 20–25
weekly clients. When he moved to Oxford with his family, half of Gadi’s
clients stayed with him – he coaches them via Skype. He also has
clients in other countries, since Skype allows for in-depth face-to-face
contact. A session lasts 1 hour, and sessions extend for 6–12 months.
To allow all of us to gain a bit of the flavour of life coaching, Gadi
suggests that we can ask ourselves a few questions. “But first there is
one condition: Be honest with yourself while answering (actually
whenever you can). Only with that, can you gain any value from this
exercise.” The questions can be used with children as well as adults,
and could be discussed within a family or household:
• When your children see you (or deal with you), what kind of person
do they see (or deal with)? (impatient,
compassionate, stressed, etc?)
• What are your most important values?
(e.g. love, peace, laughter,
compassion)
• What are your most important goals
for the next year? What three things
would make the most difference in
your life?!
Now choose one of your relationships,
and see what would happen if you applied
your Q2 values to that relationship.
I certainly enjoyed our time together, and
came away feeling refreshed and happier.
One thing Gadi said really stuck with me:
“If you want to be happier in your life,
bring all your values to expression in all
your relationships”. It’s a good life rule.
Riki Therivel
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Looking for Butterflies – the promise of summer in the
middle of winter
A rainy, bleak Saturday morning in January when the temperature won’t
reach 5º Celsius all day is an unlikely scenario for butterfly surveying.
Yet January is the optimum time to search for the eggs of one of
Oxfordshire’s more notable
butterfly species: the Brown
Hairstreak. The UK
conservation status of this
species is currently ‘vulnerable’
and their range is limited to the
south of the UK where their
larva must find blackthorn to
feed on.
Finding and recording the eggs
of these rare insects is a key
activity for protecting their habitats, which was why thirteen determined
volunteers gathered in Raleigh Park early that Saturday morning to join
Nick Bowles, Chairman of the Upper Thames Branch of the Butterfly
Conservation charity. He had brought an example of what we were
going to search for: a tiny, bright white dot nestled in the join of a
blackthorn twig to its stem. Well-hidden and easy to miss!
We began our search at the blackthorn
stand at the eastern end of the Park and
Nick soon found an egg in situ. The
advice that a female Brown Hairstreak
often lays more than one egg on the
same twig was proved right when a
second tiny brilliant white dot was
spotted. The blackthorn stand revealed
another two eggs before the group
moved westwards up the Park, but no
further eggs were found.
A member of Friends of Raleigh Park
had seen an adult female Brown
Hairstreak laying eggs along the bridleway at the top of Harcourt Hill in
August 2018. We went up to check the blackthorns bordering the
bridleway and had found six more eggs by the survey’s end. Nick and
members of Butterfly Conservation were pleased to see sizeable young
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elms in the hedgerows. These are the food plants of the even scarcer
White-Letter Hairstreak, listed as having ‘endangered’ UK conservation
status. A brief search did not reveal any eggs on this occasion, but the
presence of elms approaching maturity is an encouraging prospect for
attracting White-Letter Hairstreaks in the future.
Friends of Raleigh Park members were very grateful for the expert
advice and time kindly given by Upper Thames Branch Butterfly
Conservation on this chilly day. Further information about local
butterflies and the Upper Thames Branch’s activities can be found on
their website: https://www.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk
The Raleigh Park butterfly surveys will run again in 2019. We plan to
start in April, weather permitting, and anyone with an interest is very
welcome to join the informal survey walks around the Park. We survey
every three weeks, usually on a Monday afternoon. More information
about all Friends of Raleigh Park activities can be found on the website:
http://www.raleighpark.org.uk. Do come along and join us in an activity
that extends throughout the summer from April until October.
Barbara Witkowski
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EXPRESSWAY – Food for thought
At Prime Minister’s Question Time on 6 February.
Layla Moran, MP: Mr. Speaker, the premise for the Oxford to
Cambridge Expressway has never been consulted on, yet this multi-
billion pound, multi-lane highway is set to carve through the landscape
between Oxford, Milton Keynes and Cambridge and affect millions. Now
there is a consultation due to start on the route option later this year but,
will today the Minister guarantee that there will also be a formal
consultation on whether the Expressway is the right thing to do at all?
David Lidington, Deputy Prime Minister: Mr. Speaker, the
Expressway is part of a strategic plan for the Oxford to Cambridge
corridor which is probably the best opportunity for economic growth for
innovation and job creation anywhere in Europe at the moment. Like
her, I speak as somebody who has a constituency, not just a
government, interest on this. There will be a public consultation on route
options later this year, there will then be a public consultation on the
preferred route, and communities will be able to comment on all aspects
of the Expressway during those consultation [and see page 39]
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Botley and Kennington Patient Participation Group
Following Dr McEwan’s February talk on ways to reduce the risk of
getting cancer, the PPG are planning other talks. We would welcome
your input and suggestions for future topics. You can find more
information on the Medical Centre notice boards, and in local
magazines like this one.
Healthwatch and PPGs
Did you know you can learn a lot about Oxfordshire PPGs on the
Healthwatch website? Www.healthwatchoxfordshire.co.uk has a whole
section devoted to PPG activity, where you can also leave comments
about your healthcare experience. Healthwatch Oxfordshire is
committed to supporting PPGs in the county. They are endeavouring to
increase the number of patients involved locally to ensure more are
heard, involved and informed. At Botley and Kennington PPG we
subscribe to that belief, so we need YOU to become involved.
At PPG meetings we take the time to discuss people’s concerns –:
getting prescriptions in time is a current issue. We also learn a lot about
developments and constraints on the practice from the source, as the
meeting is usually attended by the Practice Manager and one of the
practice partners.
Currently meetings alternate between
Botley and Kennington and are either
on a Wednesday or Monday at 6pm.
Let us know if you would like to be
involved – we can change the time if
necessary. We need new people to
bring forward ideas and suggestions,
so please come along to the AGM
where you can learn more. This will
be on 19th March 2019 7pm in the
Village Centre Kennington.
For those not sure where this is, it is
close to the medical centre and
opposite the Tandem on the main
road through the village. Parking is
either at the medical centre or pub.
Chris Sugden for the PPG Group
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Have you seen this bird?
Over the past couple of months an unexpected visitor has been spotted
in several locations across Botley: a rose-coloured starling. Although
similar in size and shape to a standard starling, they have distinctive
black and pinky-beige markings. These birds usually live in eastern
Europe or Asia, but often
follow trails of swarming
locusts across Europe, in
this case overshooting
considerably!
Botley resident Wylie Horn,
who is a conservation
advisor with the RSPB,
said: “Seeing a rose-
coloured starling in
Oxfordshire is definitely
unusual. There have only
been a handful of records in the county historically. An irruption across
Europe was reported in the middle of last
year, https://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/bird track/news-archive/2018
/rose-coloured-starlings-move, and it’s likely that this bird was a
straggler from that. I hope that it makes its way back to its natural
homeland in the far eastern European steppe soon.”
Unfortunately this rarity has recently dropped out of sight, so we are
asking everybody to keep an eye out and report back to
botleyhinksey@hotmail.co.uk if you spot it. We’re keeping fingers
crossed that a female sparrowhawk, also spotted in the area recently,
wasn’t the cause of its disappearance. David Kay
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Association for Botley Communities
The Association for Botley Communities (or
ABC, as we are better known) was formed last
year with the vision of facilitating community
action in Botley and surrounding areas. We
consider membership of the area we call Botley
to actually cover parts of both North Hinksey and
Cumnor parishes, so all the more useful to
gather people together as there is not another
obvious umbrella organisation. To this end, a
group of us representing many of the community organisations within
Botley gathered at Dean Court Community Centre one Monday in
January to share ideas and find out what we all do!
There were over 20 organisations represented by 17 of us, with more
apologies given from those who couldn’t make it and others invited.
Groups represented ranged very widely, from the Foodbank to Tilbury
Residents, from Friends of Raleigh Park to Botley Bridges, from Ss
Peter and Paul Church to Botley Arts, and many more, all of us seeking
to serve the local community in some way.
We discussed the aims and needs of each group, and considered what
we can do to help each other. Two key themes of the evening were
volunteers and fundraising (no surprises!). We hope to be able to take
action on both in due course, with the creation of a Botley volunteer
database to list opportunities and training available, and a Botley
Communities grant fund, to which rich local commercial enterprises
could donate and poor local charitable enterprises could apply. Both
these ideas are still very much in their infancy, with potential to be
shaped, so if you have ideas to offer, we would very much welcome it!
We also talked about creating a mini-group for those of us who run
community halls, to share ideas and experience specifically related to
keeping a building going, and about the challenges of marketing events,
activities and venues. Perhaps most excitingly, we discussed the
possible return of the “Best of Botley” awards – maybe in the new
Seacourt Hall in the new West Way Community Hub building?! Watch
this space…
There is always room for more groups and people to be involved, so if
you’d like to be at our next get-together, please get in touch via our
Facebook page. Anna Pearson
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Brownies explore the Moral Maze
We welcomed Jameela to 2nd Botley Brownies and two of our ex-
Brownies (Lisa & Bella) who are now doing the service element for their
Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award, and we also enrolled Michelle.
On a chilly Saturday afternoon we had a very successful cinema trip to
see ‘Mary Poppins Returns’ and we felt as if we had a quarter of the
cinema just for us. Some of us had seen the film before our trip but still
enjoyed it and spotted things we had not noticed the first time around.
The girls were captivated and it was a complete treat for us Leaders to
look along our row of girls and see a totally spell-bound girl leaning
forward open-mouthed!
The following week at Brownies, as part of the New Brownie
Programme, we discussed the film and the morals. Then each Six
chose a particular scene or message and re-enacted it for us all.
Imaginations ran wild. We had:
1. Don’t judge a book by its cover – a library scenario whereby the
seemingly lovely, sweet “butter wouldn’t melt in the mouth” librarian
actually loathed the printed
word and would have a tantrum
and trash the library just after
closing time each night before
restoring it again!
2. Learning to love ordinary
chores – for example, bath
time, and a typical Mary
Poppins magical underwater
swimming scene with real
dolphins and pirate ships.
3. Don’t be greedy – turning back
time so that with better
document filing the corrupt
banker could not swindle the
grieving Banks family out of
their house.
4. Don’t judge a book by its cover
– comparing the outward
appearance of the seemingly.
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nice suited-and-
booted bankers
with their evil
cartoon-screen
counterparts
Then just before
half term, in the
lead up to Thinking
Day, we played a
Trading Game –
each Six was
allotted a set of
template shapes
and a country:
USA, India, Ghana
or Tanzania. The countries had to manufacture to a set of exacting
standards any of these shapes (each worth a different value): triangle,
rectangle, circle or semi-circle and remember to cash them at the
central bank. With the classic Girlguiding mantra, “If it doesn’t say you
can’t, you can” they eventually realized that they could negotiate with
the other countries for equipment they didn’t have or perhaps even join
forces and share equipment and labour. (see photo). Finally, with
pencil, paper, scissors and ruler now in their possession, groups began
to manufacture shapes which they took to the bank to exchange for
cash. But then global conditions suddenly affected them, and equipment
was lost or prices plummeted, and there were cries of, “That’s not fair”.
Precisely – life isn’t fair! You just have to make the best of what you
have and maybe, just maybe, try and learn to work together!
Lucy Howes
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37
LOCAL PLANNING APPLICATIONS
P19/V0065/LDP
29 Seacourt Rd. Form room in roof
space with rear dormer and gable.
7 January
TDD: 4 March
P19/V0090/LDP
6 Poplar Rd. Form room in roof
space with rear dormer.
9 January
TDD: 6 March
P19/V0030/HH
4 Chelsie House 104 West Way.
Pitched roof removed & replaced
with enlarged flat roof. Ground floor
& 1st floor extensions.
10 January
Target
Decision Date:
7 March
P19/V0129/HH
Braeriach, Grosvenor Rd. Erect 3
dormer windows on the rear
elevation.
14 January
TDD: 11
March
P19/V0158/HH
44 Hutchcomb Rd. Demolish
existing dormer & chimney stack to
rear. Put in n
ew dormer & alter 1st floor window.
16 January
TDD: 13
March
P19/V0023/FUL
Retrospective
application in
connection with
P07/V0741/O and
P13/V0817/RM,
Tilbury Fields. Change roads,
footpaths, parking areas, hard &
soft landscaping, boundaries,
recycling storage facilities, vehicle
access prevention to Tilbury Lane,
& surface water drainage.
21 January
TDD: 22 April
P19/V0184/HH
Retrospective
application
51 Yarnells Hill. For rear patio
carried out during the works of the
approved front and rear extension,
application P17/V2719/HH.
24 January
TDD: 21
March
P19/V0284/HH
38 Yarnells Hill. replace side & rear
extensions with single storey rear
extension & convert garage.
30 January
TDD: 27
March
P19/V0372/FUL
Variation of
condition 2
(approved plans)
of planning
permission
P17/V3116/FUL
9 West Way. Increase height by
0.5m & 1st floor window heights.
Refurbish B1 offices, external
cladding & alter doors & windows.
Add 2nd floor extension to provide
10 apartments. Amended plans of
25/4/2018 revising bin location and
providing flooding information.
8 February
TDD: 10 May
P19/V0357/FUL
1 Hillhead, Lime Rd. Change of use
from 6 to 8 bedroom House in
Multiple Occupation (Sui Generis).
11 February
TDD: 8 April
38
39
Randoms
Hill End needs you
Hill End along the Eynsham Road are looking for volunteers to help
maintain the Centre’s grounds both as a wildlife conservation and
educational resource. There is much to do: footpath maintenance,
weeding and cutting out the invasive plants; protecting habitats and
food for wildlife; occasional planting and pruning; building maintenance;
surveying and keeping records of the plants, birds, butterflies and bees.
Come for entire sessions or just the occasional hour. Tools are
provided. More info at www.hillend-oec.co.uk Contact David Millin on
01865 863510 or email at david.millin@hill-end.org
Hinksey Heights Fen
Work Parties Oxfordshire Fens Project are looking for volunteers to help
restore species-rich short sward fen https://freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/
projects/oxfordshire-fens-project/ Meet at the Golf Club car park OX5
1AB. Second Sunday of the month from 10th March, 10am–3 pm. All
welcome. Contact camilla.r.lambrick@gmail.com
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41
Botley Women’s Institute
At our next meeting on 5th March, Flo van Diemen van Thor will be
speaking about “Dementia”. Competition: a spring flower. Walking
group: 11th March: meet at Elms Parade for 10am bus to Witney Lakes.
Craft group 19th March, 19:30, when we will be making sugar paste
flowers. Book group: 27th March. Come and join us in our centenary
year. AJ
Bad news from Botley
Thames Valley Police local newsletter is mainly about Abingdon and the
surrounding villages. Four items relate to Botley in the latest issue.
– Overnight burglary in North Hinksey Lane between 29 and 30
January. Entry was gained by smashing a patio door.(Crime ref. no
43190031194).
– Poaching at Farmoor Reservoir. The perimeter fence was cut and
long lines put out to catch fish. Police are investigating with the help of
Thames Water’s Wildlife Officer, and the Environment Agency.
– Tools have been stolen from vans in the Botley area.
– A house was broken into in Heatley Way (off Tilbury Lane), overnight
on 26 January, and car keys taken (Ref no. 43190027216.)
If you have information that might help with any of the above, please
call 101 and quote the crime reference number
STOP PRESS
t
STOP PRESS
t
STOP PRESS
t
STOP PRESS
t
The High Court has accepted BBOWT’s claim that the Govt had a legal
duty to assess the impact on wildlife and habitat before they chose a
corridor for the proposed Oxbridge Expressway and related housing.
Today shows us that the government has a case to answer and we look
forward to fighting for wildlife at the full hearing, said BBOWT. We mean
to make sure that the potential impact of this concrete corridor is fully
assessed and made public.
Cumnor Choral concert
Cumnor Choral is putting on a concert of Handel Anthems on Saturday
23rd March at 7.30 in St Peter and St Paul’s Church. There will also be
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a new piece by local composer Leslie Perrem “The Isle Full of Noises”,
which he wrote as a companion piece to Ravel’s “Introduction and
Allegro for Harp, Flute, Clarinet and String Quartet”. Tickets from
Caroline on 07961 900670 or cockman.caroline@gmail.com. Cumnor
Choral is always ready to welcome new voices. There is no audition;
you just need to bring your enthusiasm and willingness to learn to
rehearsal at St Andrews Church, Dean Court on Fridays from 19.45 to
21.45 hrs. (September–March). See
www.cumnorchoralsociety.wordpress.com.
Flood Alleviation Scheme hits a snag
Landowners protesting against compulsory purchase orders for the
controversial Flood Alleviation Scheme have received an encouraging
letter telling them that the Dept for Farming and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
has taken their concerns seriously. If the OFAS group cannot manage
to address these concerns over the coming months, they will be brought
before a Public Enquiry in July. As a result, the earliest possible start for
preliminary construction work might be Spring 2020.
Spring Clean 2019
Due to take place this weekend, March 1st to 3rd. Can you help? Good
for the planet, good for Botley, good for your waistline! Even the
smallest piece of plastic blowing in the wind has the potential to get into
water courses and thence into rivers and be washed into the sea, with
hideous consequences for marine life. Take this chance to make a
difference. Even if you haven’t registered you can still get out there and
lend a hand to the groups who have.
44
Cumnor Choral Society
45
Organizations: If your organization is not listed here, please send details
to editor@thesprout.org.uk or telephone 724452 for inclusion.
Dean Court Community Centre Thur 6–7.30 Fiona
Wheeler, firstbotleybrow n ies@ gmail.com
Rosary Room, Yarnells Hill. Tues 6:15-7:45 Alison
Griffin 2ndbotleybrownies@outlook.com
Scout Hall, Arnolds Way; mail@thefourth.org.uk
Website: http://www.thefourth.org .u k /
Meet Fridays, Botley Baptist Hall Contact: Julie Tatham
01865 863074 or Amy Cusden 07887 654386
Tues/Thurs 9.15–11 , SS Peter & Paul Church Hall
Thurs 7-8pm at Matthew Arnold Sports Hall. Garry Clark
0777 3559 314 garryclark13@gmail.com
Free Library Service for housebound Ox. 248142
Jason Barley Ox. 242926 jbarley1@ sky.com or
Brendan Byrne 792531 brendan.byrne999@gmail.com
Wednesday 9.30 a.m Contact: Briony 246497
01865 248142. Open till 7 on Friday and 1pm on Sat,
otherwise 9.30 to 5.30 (closed Wednesdays).
Thur 7.30, St Andrew’s Church, Dean Court. Angela
Astley-Penny Ox.242189 angastpen@aol.com
Open for young people 3-5 daily, Th. eves 7–9
Te l : 0 1 8 6 5 2 5 111 5 www.branchesyouth.uk Facebook
Branches Youth Cafe, Instagram @_branches_youth_
For all. Put food in, take food out. Ss P&P church, Mon–
Sat 9–5, Sun 11 –5. Riki Therivel 07759 135811
Friday 7.30 to 9.30 pm Contact: 01235 533726 or
07552 786127 or www.cumnorchoral.co.uk
Thurs 7–9pm Cumnor Old School. Steven Bennett
862788 www.cumnorchessclub.co.uk
Last Monday of the month 7.30-9.00 Cumnor Old
School. 01865 724808
Details on website at http://cumnorgardens.org.uk/ or
phone Chris Impey, 01865 721026
Wed 7.30 at Appleton village hall. C. Casson 01235
831352 or harmonyinspires@hotmail.co.uk
Contact: David Millin on david.millin@hill-end.org, call
01865-863510 or visit www.hillend-oec.co.uk
Weds 2pm, WOCC, details Emily 07969 522368
or email emformusic@outlook.com
Barbara Brett 249599 or bag@cryhavoc.org.uk
46
Mondays 10.30 at Dean Court CC, contact Jacqueline
Rice via https://yogawithjacqueline.co.uk
Mon–Fri 7.45am –6.00 pm. 01865 794287 or email
nhps.manager1@gmail.com
Weds 10 – 12.00 W.I. Hall Tel: Christina 07931 707997
Contact: Ray Rook 01865 241451
Meets at weekends. Contact Voirrey Carr
07798743121 voirreyc@aol.com
Annual Cricket Match & Walk. Douglas Bond 791213.
Contact: Ann Dykes Ox 251821 anndykes@hotmail.com
Alan Stone 01865 861992 nhpcclerk@msn.com
Wednesdays at Arnold's Way pavilion, call Daz on
07791 212866 or see Facebook
Every other Thursday. Seacourt Hall. Viv Smith 01865
241539 or Jackie Warner 01865 721386
R Thurston 01865 723663 or 07973 292035
4th Thursday Cumnor. Dympna Walker: 01865 865259
Swimming for people with disabilities. Sundays, twice
monthly. Contact: Alan Cusden 723420
Boys and girls from 5, kevin.honner@ntlworld.com
Seniors, training etc jbrodley@chandlings.org.uk.
Family club: Melanie Riste 848658 or
melanie_riste@hotmail.c o m
Contact: Pen Keyte, Branch Secretary 01865 556032.
David Brown raleighpark@raleighp ark.o rg.uk
Mon & Fri 10–3pm, Field House, 07740 611971.
oxfordshirehub@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk
Fun activities and trips for Dads and under 5’s
10 am–noon 1st Sat of month. Tel: 243955
Contact: Michael Cockman 07766 317691
michael.cockman@gmail.com.
6+ WOCC twice weekly Martyn King 07836 646450
Thursdays 6pm at SS Peter & Paul Church Hall Banso
tel: 07779 253899 bansob@aol.com
Contact details on www.westoxfordbowlsclub.co.uk
Mon, Thurs 6.30-8pm, MA gym, contact Chris Hall
07815 899698 www.wotkd.co.uk
(Uni of the 3rd Age) http://westoxfordu3a.org.uk/
Liz Manson, 244175 email liz.manson@virgin media.com
47
Halls for Hire
Botley Baptist Hall
Westminster Way
Contact: Rev Kalyan Das
Te l . 07841 867967
The Rosary Room
Yarnells Hill, OXFORD
Contact Maria Brown,
Te l : 0 1 8 6 5 2 4 7 9 8 6 .
SS Peter & Paul Church Hall, West
Way, Botley
Contact: Mr M Shearan
Te l : 8 6 2748
Women's Institute Hall, North
Hinksey Lane
Contact: Val Warner
Te l . 245273
Seacourt Hall, West Way Place,
Botley
Contact: Eric Batts 07452 960100 or
seacourt.hall@gmail.com
Pavilion, Arnold’s Way, Elms Rise,
Botley
Contact: Emmett Casley 427519
emmett@kerensagardens.co.uk
Oxford Rugby Club, North Hinksey
Village
Contact: Mary Bagnall
mary.bagnall1@btinternet.com.
North Hinksey & Botley Churches
St. Lawrence, Church of England, North Hinksey Lane
1st, 2nd, 4th Sunday, Sung Eucharist 11.30 a .m.
3rd Sunday, Matins 11.30 am
St. Peter and St. Paul, Church of England, West Way
2nd Saturday each Month, 4–6pm Messy Church for children and their carers
1st Sunday of the Month, 9.30am All Age service of Holy Communion
All other Sundays, 9.30am Holy Communion with activities for children
Every Wednesday, 10.30am Holy Communion at Field House
Rev Clare Sykes, Rector Tel: 242345 or revclare@btinternet.com
Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Roman Catholic, Yarnells Hill
Saturday 6.30 pm. Mass
Sunday 9.15 am Mass
Fr Daniel Lloyd. 07584 323915 dlloyd@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk.
Botley Baptist Church, West Way Place
Sunday Service 10.30 am.
Mid Week House Group 8.00 p.m.
Family Worship Service 5-6pm on Saturday
Rev Kalyan Das 07841 867 967 www.botleybaptistchurch.org
Calvary Chapel
Sunday services held at Botley School 10.30–12 noon
Pastor Philip Vickery 01865 864498
calvarychapeloxford@yahoo.co.uk; www.calvarychapeloxford.org.uk
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Sprout – What’s On
March 2019
1st to 3rd Big Clean Up, all around Botley
Sat 9th 9.30–11.30 at King’s Centre, Osney Mead: Sale of kids
clothes, toys, books etc in aid of N Hinksey Preschool and
Childcare Clubs
Sat 9th 1.30pm, Branches Café, Six Nations Rugby for 12–17 year
olds, Scotland v Wales, free entry
Sat 9th 7pm, Branches Cafe, Mad Hatters Tea Party, see
www.branchesyouth.uk for tickets
Mon11th 2.30pm, Dean Court Community Centre, U3A talk: Alan Cutler
on ‘Judge, Jury, Judgement … Justice?’
Fri 15th 11am, Bonn Square, National Schools Climate Emergency
demonstration
Sat 16th 10-12pm, Branches Café (above Library), District Councillors’
Surgery
Sat 16th 1.30pm, Wytham Village Hall, Family Magic Show
Tues 19th 7pm, Village Centre, Kennington: Botley/Kennington Patients
Group AGM
Thurs 21st 7pm, Seacourt Hall, NHPC ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
Sat 23rd 7.30pm, Farmoor Village Hall, Bingo
Sat 23rd 7.30pm, Ss Peter & Paul’s Church, An Evening of Handel
Anthems, Cumnor Choral Society
Mon 25th 2.30pm, Dean Court Community Centre, U3A talk: Martin
Harris on ‘200 years of my family in Botley and Cumnor’
Thurs 28th 8pm, Seacourt Hall, Parish Council Meeting
More local events and information on www.botleyhinksey.org.uk